Sir Arthur Canberra

Sir Arthur Canberra, a 19th century pioneer and explorer, saw in the Limestone Plains a panorama worthy of the landscape cult that established colonial Australia. Sir Arthur recognised that rural landscapes and lifestyle are the 'real' Australia, with life in the metropolis both artificial and unhealthy. Sir Arthur was guided to the region by idealism fused with practicality, and successfully bartered two shiny balls and a magic numbers machine with the local indigenous people to secure mining rights to all the land from Gungahlingadinga to Tugerrawangally Creek. Canberra City is named after him